Anonymous wrote:$25 - $30.
Close friends - $50.
In my defense - we are Indians. In our culture, what you gift and the cost of the gift has huge cultural connotations.
I am unable to break that conditioning!
I am Russian and I totally relate.
I have seen a bday party for an Indian child at one of those kids' places- the cart with gifts was truly impressive!
I just had a bday party for my son. 14 kids. Most non-Russian guests brought $5-10 presents. One brought nothing, one brought a card. I felt stupid as I never spent less than $20 on classmates' gifts.
One thing was inexpensive but truly great- a decorate your own treasure chest from Melissa and Doug. Board games- we got two- I don't like them very much as they require parental involvement.
We got some inexpensive but nice things such as bubble blowers, water guns, etc.